FERNDOWN'S new mayor says he is committed to supporting young people in the town.

Councillor Steve Lugg, who was formally elected to the role on May 21, has served as a town councillor since October 2008.

Over the past decade, he has been deputy mayor three times. In 2011, Cllr Lugg served as the chair of East Dorset District Council. He was elected to the county council in September 2016.

Cllr Lugg grew up in Sherborne, and joined the Army at 16. He left at 40, and went on to manage the finances of Bournemouth Social Service's adults and community division.

He is also a member of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

The company, based in Knightsbridge, London, provides a daily ‘Queen’s Life Guard’ at Whitehall.

Outside of work, Cllr Lugg serves as chair of the East Dorset branch of Mencap, a governor at Ferndown Upper School and a trustee at the Barrington Centre. He is also president of the town's Royal British Legion branch.

Cllr Lugg's wife Cathy was the town mayor for 2017/18. The two have five children and six grandchildren, and have also given a home to foster children.

He said he is "both proud and honoured" to be Ferndown's mayor.

Over the course of the next year, Cllr Lugg says he will focus on "engaging with younger people". His charities for the year at Water Aid, the British Legion and the Centre for Excellence in Industrial Liaison.